A thread :
“A Man of Evident Splendor” – Description of The Prophet ﷺ by Umm Ma’bad, :
Her name was 'Aatikah bint Khaalid' & 'Umm Ma’bad' was her nick name.Her name is connected to one of the greatest event in the Prophet ﷺ’s life, the Hijrah from Makkah to Madeenah
She was a famous, chaste, strong and courageous woman and had a camp in "Qudayd". She would sit down in the courtyard of her camp wrapped-up in her garment, generously providing food and drink to the travelers who passed by.
During the hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ, he stopped by her tent with his companions for some rest and food.
“It was narrated that the Messenger ﷺ, his servant, a guide and Abu Bakr R.A left Mecca, passing a tent of an elderly lady called Umm Ma’bad.
She would sit close to the tent & would give food & drink to travelers. So they asked her if they could buy some meat or dates from her but she could not find anything.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked towards a sheep next to the tent.They had run out of provisions & were hungry
The Prophet ﷺ asked her, What is wrong with this sheep, Umm Ma’bad?
She replied,“The sheep is fatigued and is weaker than the other sheep.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,“Does it milk?”
She replied,“I swear by your mother and father,if I saw milk from it then I would milk it”
The Prophet ﷺ called the sheep and moved his hand over its udder; he pronounced the name of Allah and praised him. Then he called Umm Ma’bad when the sheep steadied its feet and its udder filled. He asked for a large container and milked it until it was filled.
The lady drank until full, his companions (meaning satisfied) drank until full, then the others drank. Then it was milked for a second time until the container was full and they left her and continued on their journey.
After a short while, the partner of the lady (Abu Ma’bad) returned from herding goats that were swaying from weakness. He saw the milk and said to his wife, “Where did you get this milk from, dear Umm Ma’bad. The sheep is single and there is no milk in the house!”
She replied, “I swear by God, a blessed man came to us today”
Abu Ma’bad said, “Describe him to me.”
She then began her description about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ :
Description of RasoolAllah ﷺ by Umm Ma'bad:
ظاهر الوَضَاءة– his cleanliness was apparent
أبْلَجُ الوجه - his face was luminous
حسن الخُلُق - handsome disposition
لم تعبه ثُجْلَة - he did not have a protuding stomach
ولم تُزْرِ به صَعْلَة - nor did he have a small head”
وسِيم - handsome
قَسِيم - well proportioned
في عينيه دَعَج - his eyes had wideness
وفي أشفاره وَطَف - his eyelashes were long
وفي صوته صَهَل - and in his voice was raspiness/crackle
وفي عنقه سَطَع - and his neck was long
أحْوَر - the white of his eyes is extremely white, and the black of his eyes is extremely black
أكْحَل - it was was as if he had kohl (eyeliner the Arabs used) on naturally
أزَجّ - natural arching of his eyebrows
أقْرَن - looked like his two eyebrows met
This was mentioned by Umm Ma’bad keeping in mind that she saw him once, other companions said “laysa bi aqran” he did not have any hair between his eyebrows but it was a vein that would show when he would be angry.
شديد سواد الشعر - his hair was extremely black
إذا صمت علاه الوقار - when he was silent he would be enveloped in an aura of respect
وإن تكلم علاه البَهَاء - and if he spoke it was like a light protruding from him
أجمل الناس وأبهاهم من بعيد - the most beautiful of people from far
وأحسنه وأحلاه من قريب - and the most beautiful from close
حلو المنطق - his speech was sweet
لا نَزْر - not short
ولا هَذَر - not very long
كأن منطقه خَرَزَات نظمن يَتَحدَّرن - it was as if his speech were beads of a necklace cut, meaning that his words fall in order after one another and that his speech was organized.
لا تقحمه عينمن قِصَر، ولا تشنؤه من طول، غُصْن بين غُصْنَيْن، فهو أنْظَر الثلاثة منظراً، وأحسنهم قدْرًا - His height does not harm and the eye is not taken over by him, a branch between two branches, he is more radiant than them and he is most respected.
له رفقاء يحفون به - his companions would surround him
إذا قال استمعوا لقوله - when he spoke they would listen attentively to his speech
وإذا أمر تبادروا إلى أمره - and if he orders they hasten to it fully
لا عَابِس ولا مُفَنَّد - without frowning or refusing
Umm Ma'bad ends her description of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by talking about the respect that was shown to him, which only adds to his impressive personality in how the companions would respond.
After listening to Umm Ma'bad, Abu Ma'bad responded as :
I swear by Allah, he is the one Quraysh mentioned to us about his affair in Makkah. I am determined to accompany him; if I could go that way.”
This actually happened. Umm Ma’bad and her husband went to Madeenah, embraced Islaam, swore allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ and stayed in his company as much as possible.
Amr ibn Al Ās R.A says when he met the Prophet ﷺ and he returned to Makkah saying that he had visited the courts of Kisrah and Caesar, and he had never seen anyone more beloved or respected than Muhammad ﷺ
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